Jonathan’s Malbec is the only 100% Malbec made in the Banhoek Valley. Le Pommier wine farm is located on the Helshoogte Pass, the main route between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and is the perfect base to explore this unique and most breathtaking wine region.
The Le Pommier Wine Range is a product of the Banhoek Valley. The range is characterised by excellent quality wines that appeal to your novice wine drinker. It’s your everyday wine range that you can unwind in the company of great friends for a relaxing evening or enjoy a good meal.
Malbec (pronounced [mal.bɛk]) is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark colour and robust tannins and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. In France, plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in South West France, though the grape is grown worldwide. It is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal. As a varietal, Malbec creates a rather inky red (or violet), intense wine, so it is also commonly used in blends, such as with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the red French Bordeaux claret blend. The grape is blended with Cabernet Franc and Gamay in some regions such as the Loire Valley.
Half a hectare of Malbec was planted in 2003 on one of the highest South facing slopes of Le Pommier Farm. An additional hectare was planted in 2020. Le Pommier Malbec is also used in the Le Pommier MAC, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Jonathan was Le Pommier’s resident Bull with a unique attitude; he was also quite mischievous. One year Jonathan broke into this vineyard and consumed most of the first-ever harvest, illustrating his excellent taste. With a small amount of Malbec left, Le Pommier produced the first limited quantity of Jonathan’s Malbec.
When you enjoy a bottle of Le Pommier Jonathan’s Malbec, you can be reminded of this naughty, droopy-eyed sweetheart and his excellent taste in this particular cultivar. Sadly, Jonathan passed away due to good old age, but his legacy lives on in this wine named after him.
The wine has perfumed notes on the nose which give way to rich mulberry and dark cherry tones on the palate. The wine rewards well with a couple of years of bottle maturation with an ageing potential of 5-8 years.
Jonathan’s Malbec has received various awards over the years, more recently the 2020 received a Gold award in the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Award.
Jonathan’s Malbec is best enjoyed with roast beef, venison, slow roast leg of lamb, pizza or a good meaty potjie.